Verbally Challenged

Today my little big man is ONE! Now how did THAT happen!

All day yesterday I was thinking back to last year. I had an amnio the day after Christmas to see if he’d be ok to deliver the following Monday (three weeks early). After stressing for weeks about the gigantic needle that was going to be inserted into my soul, I remember lying on the table during the procedure thinking “is this all?” It really wasn’t THAT big of a needle. And I really didn’t feel much at all – during the procedure. They cleaned me up, told me to relax for a couple of minutes and get up when I was ready. I was having a non-stress test next. No big deal!!!

After relaxing for oh, 2 minutes, I went to get up and WHAM…contractions. HOLY CONTRACTIONS! I could barely stand. I don’t even remember how I got to the non-stress test room – perhaps I crawled. There was another lady in the chair next to mine sitting comfortably and enjoying the sounds of her baby while reading a magazine. I’m sure the whole zen vibe changed once I entered the room – gripping the chair – digging my heels into the footrests – trying to remember the breathing that I never had to use because my babies were all c-sections. Cursing the doctors who had the nerve to stick my uterus with a needle. Stupid MEN! And the pain….OH THE PAIN…I wanted to die. And I swear THAT exact moment is when my labor started. I had my c-section about 24 hours later.

All of yesterday and then today, I kept going back. Thinking about what I was doing at that exact moment. And right this very second, one year ago, I was holding my sweet little boy all swaddled in a nice warm blanket, feeding him, studying him, loving him. It was a special time that is so vivid right now. I never want to forget it…well maybe just the contractions.

Today, he has grown so much. And he’s busy. And he made me SWEAT through a photo shoot that I attempted a couple of days ago. You know what I ended up with? NOTHING! It didn’t help that he was sick.

So today it’s a snappy day with my little big man in snapshots. And what he’s doing.

He’s still not walking but can stand alone for a few seconds before falling.
Loves peek-a-boo
Wants to climb

Don’t let that sweet little “resting” angel fool you. He’s about to get up on the coffee table.

Still thinks biting is funny (still working on that), although the big blue rubber dog doesn’t seem to mind.

Me, yes.
Is a GREAT eater (hope that stays)
Signs to communicate
Does not like getting dressed (the arms are the worst)
Takes two naps a day
Still has adorable curly hair that’s kind of crazy at times

Gives “five”
Loves to hear his own voice
Walks with a walker darn well
Cruises like a champ – even on big blue rubber dogs

Loves to stand up, put his arms in the air a fall backwards
Yes it’s as unsafe as it sounds. It’s his reverse skydiving move.
Plays with anything and everything. He doesn’t play favorites.
Loves to be scared.
Has a great sense of humor.

He’s one.

Photos from his one year old shoot coming soon (I have plans). And the big birthday bash in a couple of weeks. And the 8 million other things we’ve been up to the past 8 weeks when I was the worlds biggest blog slacker.

Three years ago today I was in the hospital having my sweet baby girl. She was three weeks early and I was far from prepared (mentally) to have a baby before Christmas. I was even less prepared to be in the hospital over Christmas but you know what? It all worked out. My sister put my cookie boxes together (and she still reminds me of that today), my hubby handled Liam perfectly (even dressing him as directed) and he even passed out all the gifts properly (as if I had any doubt). I was even released on Christmas day, heavily drugged, and almost caused my mom to drop a glass water pitcher on the floor (yeah she wasn’t expecting me).

I still missed the majority of Christmas though. In the hospital I admired my new baby girl and held her almost my entire stay. I realized that tv really stinks around the holidays and watched The Christmas Story ten too many times! And I was very thankful that my sister brought me some chocolate bark when visiting. SHE is what got me out of bed for the first time after my surgery. I needed that candy at 1 am and wasn’t about to call a nurse to retrieve it from my suitcase (embarrassing…hello)!!!!

Today I am so proud of my little gal. She’s brilliant (work with me here, even though I’m the mom) and says things that a gal twice her age would say. She’s beyond independent and knows what she wants/likes. She can’t wait to go to school and loves playing with little girls her own age. She adores her ballet class almost as much as I adore dressing her for it (not kidding). She loves taking “pretty pictures” and getting dressed up. Heck, she dresses better than I do. She also has more shoes that me (ahem…mom). She loves dolls, dress-up, princesses, puzzles and is starting to get crafty (yeah I’m smiling about that).

She’s awesome.

Happy Birthday to my favorite THREE year old little gal! Bring on the balloons!

And the snow:

And toboggan’s!

I’m late, I’m late for a very important blog update!

Finner is 11 months! And it’s time to talk about him.

Yes you little guy!

He’s adorable. Completely.
He can pull up AND get down safely without needed a crash helmet
He can walk with a walker
He can stand, let go and balance himself for a few seconds before falling or holding on again
He stills smiles at the world, a lot.
He has the most beautiful curls.

See?

I hope they stay.
He still naps twice a day.
He nurses 5-8 times a day.
He loves Annie the cat, and she loves him back.
He has 8 teeth.
He loves his Sophie giraffe chew toy.

But likes this guy too:

He plays peek-a-boo
He waves bye
He smiles…a lot (did I say that already?)
He does so big
He loves butter beans…made like my grandma used to make them (they’re yummy so I can’t blame him)
He’s amazing.